Rep. Kevin Yoder, R-3rd Dist., sent a letter on Thursday to U.S. Postmaster General Megan Brennan urging the U.S. Postal Service to reverse its decision to cut the hours of operation for the Argentine Post Office in Kansas City, Kan., to three hours per day, from 9 a.m. to noon on Monday through Friday, and close on Saturday.
“The Post Office’s assertion that this change is being made to ‘better serve’ the Argentine community flies in the face of reality,” Rep. Yoder said. “Argentine is a diverse, vibrant, and growing community in Kansas City, Kansas. Bounded on four sides by railroad industry, the Missouri River, and two major Kansas highways, it’s somewhat like an island with two large public housing apartment complexes for the elderly.
“Many in the community don’t own a car and foot traffic is their only method of transportation. Shortening hours of the Post Office would create added difficulty and complexity for a community of hard working Americans. I urge the Postmaster General Brennan to reverse this decision and keep the Argentine Post Office running at its current hours of operation.”
Yoder’s office had been contacted by several Wyandotte County residents who saw a note posted on the post office door on Friday afternoon.
UG Commissioner Ann Murguia sent Yoder a letter on May 27 requesting his assistance. Her letter pointed out that the postal service may intend to replace postal station services with Internet services, but that many lower-income persons in the district do not have the Internet. Some of them lack transportation to drive to other postal stations, her letter stated.
The full text of Yoder’s letter to postal authorities is below.
Megan J. Brennan
Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer
United States Postal Service
475 L’Enfant Plaza Southwest
Washington, D.C. 20260
Dear Postmaster General Brennan,
It has come to my attention that a determination has been made that the Kansas City, Kansas Argentine Post Office’s hours of operation are being diminished to only three hours per day (Monday to Friday) from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and will be closed on Saturdays beginning June 20, 2015. This is a two and one-half hour loss per day with closure on Saturday and does not take into consideration the change in service that was put into place in November of 2014.
The sign on the door also states, “in order to better serve you.” Would you please provide me an explanation on how this change provides better customer service?
Argentine is a diverse, vibrant, and growing community in Kansas City, Kansas. Bounded on four sides by railroad industry, the Missouri River, and two major Kansas Highways, Argentine is somewhat like an island. Argentine is also home to two large public housing apartment complexes for the elderly. Many in this community do not own a car and foot traffic is their only method of transportation.
This Post Office is essential to this community. Shortening hours of the Argentine Post Office creates difficulty and complexity, on a community of hard working American citizens.
I urge you to keep the Argentine Post Office in Kansas City Kansas open at the hours of operation currently in place and that these hours remain for the good of the community.
Most Sincerely,
Kevin Yoder
Member of Congress
